it’s not up to me…

what if your spouse called you and here was the total phone call: “pick up the kids at school, get the oil changed in the car, get us some money at the atm. amen.”  click.  that was the whole phone call.  that would not be very good relationally.  how would you feel at the end of that call? 

but that’s how we treat GOD a lot of times.  just take a moment to say HIS name – FATHER.  realize HIS importance and HIS greatness as you begin.  prayer is not just asking GOD for things.  it’s part of our relationship with GOD.  when you do that you realize GOD is greater. 

psalm 148.13 (niv), HIS name is greater than all others.

GOD has names like all mighty, all powerful, LORD and something happens when we take the time to recognize the greatness of HIS name. 

for me, the focus shifts and all of a sudden i’m not the center of the universe any more.  all of a sudden it’s not all on my shoulders any more.  i realize GOD’s greatness.  it’s not up to me to hold everything together. 

sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that our plans are holding the universe together or our strategy or even our worry. some of you think that if you stopped worrying this universe would cease to exist as we know it.  you really feel that way. 

but the truth is GOD was running the universe just fine before i got here and HE’s going to run it just fine after i leave.  that’s the greatness of GOD.  and sometimes i need that to put life in perspective.  we all need something greater to give us the security that we need to make it in everyday life. 

just a thought from the front porch…

do you want to be great?...

so do you want to be great in heaven? you can make fame the goal of your life, and you get it for one week. you get it on the cover, and the next week somebody else is going to be on the cover of some magazine. fame does not last in this world, so i wouldn’t waste a penny or a moment of your time trying to become famous. it doesn’t last. HE says if you want to be great in heaven, if you want to be great for eternity, if you want to be rewarded for all eternity, you’re going to need to rearrange your priorities and rearrange your schedule to allow more time for serving because that’s what GOD’s going to evaluate.

did you serve? did you give your life away in love to help other people? so HE would say, “do you want to make your life count? stop envying people and start serving them.” and GOD says, “i’m taking notice and you’re going to be rewarded eventually.”

GOD has given you certain abilities, spiritual gifts, passions and experiences. you’re unique. GOD gave you those talents and strengths not for your benefit; HE gave you your talent for the benefit of other people. if you use it on yourself, you miss the point. if you use it on other people, to serve others, GOD says good going. you’re doing exactly what you’re put on earth to do. so use it for the benefit of others.

life is about serving, not acquiring. it’s not how many toys you pile up, it’s not how big a house you get. it’s about: are you a lover? are you a server? are you like JESUS CHRIST and kind to others? and do you give your life away in service to others?

here’s the amazing lesson. if you start giving your life away in service to others, studies have shown you’ll live longer. studies have shown that people who do volunteer service regularly are far more likely to live longer and are less likely to experience a major illness during the course of their lifetime. several other recent studies have shown that volunteering to serve others boasts your level of endorphins, the brain chemical that give you a natural high, and endorphins also play a role in lowering your blood pressure, boosting immunity, which may account for why people who volunteer to serve live longer than those who don’t.

i would add to that that when you’re busy serving others, you don’t have time to envy them. in your weekly schedule, is there any time during your week that you’re doing unselfish, volunteer service in the community, in the church, in the school? anywhere that you’re serving voluntarily? you say, “i’m too busy!” yes, you’re too busy. you need to change your schedule. because when you get to heaven, you’re not going to be evaluated on the stuff that’s filling your schedule right now. it’s going to be on, did you learn to love? you say, “i don’t know where to start.” just look around. there are opportunities all around you..

love is something you do. and JESUS said if you want to be great, you’ve got to focus on this one. because it’s the ultimate antidote to envy.

just a thought from the front porch…